Xyrem

This article describes the status of Xyrem as a prescription drug. To learn about the chemical and its biological mode of action, see the article on gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. Xyrem is a trade name for gamma-hydroxybutyric acid or GHB, an endogenous neurochemical involved in regulating metabolism, especially regarding sleep or hibernation. In medical contexts GHB is often called sodium oxybate, which is an alternate term for the sodium salt of th... more

This article describes the status of Xyrem as a prescription drug. To learn about the chemical and its biological mode of action, see the article on gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. Xyrem is a trade name for gamma-hydroxybutyric acid or GHB, an endogenous neurochemical involved in regulating metabolism, especially regarding sleep or hibernation. In medical contexts GHB is often called sodium oxybate, which is an alternate term for the sodium salt of the chemical. GHB has a long history as a sleep aid, nutritional supplement, and recreational drug. In the 1980s research studies indicated that it was helpful as a treatment for narcolepsy, and in 2002 the company Orphan Medical was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market GHB as a treatment for narcolepsy with cataplexy. Jazz Pharmaceuticals, which acquired Orphan Medical in 2005, is currently conducting Phase III clinical trials to evaluate sodium oxybate for the treatment of fibromyalgia as well, based on clinical... less